Pasternack attenuator blew up in seconds at rated power

[maxwell3e10]

Ah, interesting detail. Yes, the picture on their website also looks like there is a bigger step up to the hatch. Of course could be a slight change in manufacturing, but seems quite suspicious.

So my next attempt at cheap attenuator is https://www.ebay.com/itm/225193692415,maybe will have better luck.

[ogden]

So my next attempt at cheap attenuator is https://www.ebay.com/itm/225193692415,maybe will have better luck.

Way better chance to get originals - when buying from big used equipment stores like this one (23k sales, 100% positive).

[bdunham7]

Stainless knurling is shallow. I would agree that yours is fake. For comparison this looks legit to me: https://www.ebay.com/itm/203214649459

I can see the difference, but by that standard the one on the Pasternak website looks fake and that would be surprising!      Perhaps it is just an older vs. newer thing.  That would support the idea that they screwed themselves by outsourcing the manufacture of the connector parts.

https://www.pasternack.com/30db-fixed-n-male-n-female-10-watts-attenuator-pe7048-30-p.aspx

[nctnico]

IMHO it would be good to contact Pasternak to confirm it is fake or not. If it turns out to be fake, you can open a claim on Ebay and get your money back.

[Geoff-AU]

My rule of thumb is "don't buy anything I really care about on ebay/aliexpress/amazon".

Hasn't failed me so far!

Dumping 10W @ 6GHz sounds like it should be expensive, IMO.

[tchicago]

Is there any chance your amplifier also has a DC on its output?

[maxwell3e10]

It's a TWA amplifier, so probably not, but I am not an expert on them. Tested it now using the 50W Anritsu attenuator and everything seems fine,  the attenuator does not get that hot. Based on this picture https://www.rfpage.com/rf-attenuators-how-to-choose-a-proper-one/ the construction of the *Pasternack* attenatuator seems proper. So if it is a fake, it could be only in the materials used in chip resistors, would be hard to verify.

[ogden]

Based on this picture https://www.rfpage.com/rf-attenuators-how-to-choose-a-proper-one/ the construction of the *Pasternack* attenatuator seems proper. So if it is a fake, it could be only in the materials used in chip resistors, would be hard to verify.

Counterfeit Nike sneakers looks like originals too.

[Bud]

I've accidentally came across a youtube video where the poster used a smartphone app to camera scan one of the brand name sneakers he was buying and the app tells if it is a fake. There was no details given what features the app examined.